MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – The UIndy men's golf team wrapped up its season Thursday with a close loss to No. 1-ranked West Florida in the medal/match play quarterfinals at the 2018 NCAA Division II Championships, held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at the Shoals in Muscle Shoals, Ala. The deep tournament run capped a stellar season for the Greyhounds that including both conference and regional titles.
 
After placing fifth in the 54-hole stroke-play portion of the Championships, the Hounds advanced to match play for the first time since the current format was adopted in 2011. They drew the fourth-seeded and top-ranked Argonauts in the quarters, ultimately falling by a score of 3.5-1.5. Here's the match-by-match breakdown:
 
(4) West Florida vs. (5) UIndy
Match 1 – Christian Bosso, UWF (71) def. Oliver Mast, UIndy (83)  |  UWF 1, UIndy 0
Match 2 – Ian Carroll, UIndy (76) tied Jacob Huizinga, UWF (76)  |  UWF 1.5, UIndy 0.5
Match 3 – Carlos Marrero, UWF (72) def. Spencer Klimek, UIndy (76)  |  UWF 2.5, UIndy 0.5
Match 4 –Henry Westmoreland, UWF (76) def. Erik Edwards, UIndy (77)  |  UWF 3.5, UIndy 0.5
Match 5 – Graham McAree, UIndy (69) def. Chandler Blanchet, UWF 79 (73)  |  UWF wins 3.5-1.5
 
"Right now this really stings," admitted Head Coach Brent Nicoson. "We played really well this spring and coming short of playing in the final match hurts. But we're a young team and had a very good season as a program and learned this week that we can play with any team in the country."
 
Nicoson continued: "We accomplished several goals this year; being conference and regional champions and making it to the match play portion of the national championship are some really positive things to be proud of and build on for next year."
 
Senior Graham McAree concluded his career by besting UWF senior Chandler Blanchet, who came into the tournament as the No. 2-ranked golfer in Division II. McAree fired a three-under 69 in his final collegiate round, including shooting two-under on the front nine* to hold off Blanchet.
 
McAree finished the season with a 72.3 scoring average, good for the fourth-best single-season tally in program history. His final career average is now frozen at 72.78, second only to Justin Hueber's 72.61 in UIndy's all-time annals.
 
"I'm so proud of Graham," said Nicoson. "He had an excellent career and capped it off with a great effort here this week. He's been a great leader and taught our younger guys a lot. Most importantly, he has done it the right way and has always been a class act representing Greyhound golf. "
 
Freshman Ian Carroll also contributed to the Hounds' scoring Thursday, overcoming a rough start to earn a half point in his pairing with junior Jacob Huizinga. After falling down six strokes through seven holes, Carroll came storming back by shooting -2 on the front nine* to take a brief one-stroke lead before Huizinga birdied the par-3 ninth to halve the match.
 
* teams started on the back nine


WEDNESDAY
The UIndy men's golf team made program history Wednesday at the 2018 NCAA Division II Championships. Another solid round advanced the Greyhounds to the eight-team medal/match play portion of the tournament for the first time since the current format was adopted in 2011.
 
UIndy combined for a one-under 287 to finish 54 holes of stroke play at -6, good for a share of fifth place among the nation's best. With 12 of the 20 teams now heading home, the Hounds will take on fourth-seeded West Florida – a team they were paired with in the first two rounds – in one of tomorrow morning's four head-to-head, match-play quarterfinals.
 
Graham McAree was clutch Wednesday, as the senior vaulted up 22 spots to ninth place with a six-under 66, setting the school record for lowest score at the national championships. He started the day with four birdies through the first six holes and went on to finish the round without a single bogey. It marked his fifth round in the 60s this season and his second of 66.
 
Freshman Oliver Mast was two-over par Wednesday to finish at -1 and share 20th place overall. Sophomore Spencer Klimek finished at even par on the day (as well as on the week) to tie for 26th, while Erik Edwards and Ian Carroll shared 50th place at +6.
 
With the team title still to be determined, the 2018 individual champ was crowned Wednesday. Florida Southern's John VanDerLaan fired three consecutive sub-70 rounds to finish at -17 and claim the national medal by four strokes.


TUESDAY
The UIndy men's golf team resumed play at the 2018 NCAA Division II Championships Tuesday, finishing the day at -5 through 36 holes. The Greyhounds will enter the final round of stroke play in the favorable position of fifth place at the 108-man event.
 
The Hounds combined for a three-over 291 in the second round, dropping them from second place after a number of schools posted scores under par Tuesday. However, each of the top eight teams after tomorrow's round will qualify for Thursday's match-play quarterfinals. The Greyhounds, who are looking for their first match play appearance since the current format was adopted in 2011, are 17 strokes ahead of the dreaded ninth spot.
 
After firing a collegiate low round Monday, freshman Oliver Mast remained in the top 10 after carding a second-round 73. He is currently at -3 for the tournament, good for a share of 10th place individually. Sophomore Erik Edwards also shot one-over Tuesday to settle into 20th.
 
Sophomore Spencer Klimek carded the low round of the day for UIndy, as his one-under 71 moved him up to 25th overall. Senior Graham McAree sits at +1 to share 31st, while freshman Ian Carroll finished the day at +3 to slip to 44th.
 
Barry University's Jorge Garcia tops the leaderboard after going historically low Tuesday. His nine-under 63 matched the tournament record for lowest single-round score. Meanwhile, his team finished 16-under on the day to vault into the lead at -18.


MONDAY
The UIndy men's golf team opened the 2018 NCAA Division II Championships Monday with the most timely of team tallies, carding an eight-under 280 to sit in second place through 18 holes. The total represents the lowest team score of the year for the Greyhounds, who have four players positioned in the top 20.
 
Four Hounds carded red numbers Monday to finish round one in second place in the 20-team field, sandwiched directly between top-ranked West Florida (279) and No. 2-ranked Florida Southern (281). The championship format will feature three rounds of stroke play, with the top eight teams moving on to a head-to-head match play bracket to determine the 2018 national champ.
 
One of four Greyhounds playing in his first-ever NCAA Championships, freshman Oliver Mast led the way for UIndy with a four-under 68, topping his previous collegiate low by three strokes. The Fortville, Ind., native is part of a five-way tie for second place at -4, two back of leader John VanDerLaan of Florida Southern.
 
Sophomore Erik Edwards also sits in the top 10, as his first-round 70 positioned him in a tie for eighth. Senior Graham McAree and freshman Ian Carroll each carded a one-under 71 to share 14th place, while sophomore Spencer Klimek posted a one-over 73 to tie for 36th.